Polish court detains fifth suspect in Zondacrypto exchange probe

A Katowice court approved pretrial detention for a fifth suspect in the Zondacrypto investigation on September 7, marking another escalation in what has become one of Europe’s largest crypto fraud cases. The suspect, identified as Roman Ż., faces charges of membership in an organized criminal group and computer fraud tied to the misappropriation of at least 7.8 million złoty, roughly $2 million, from client funds. Total client losses linked to the collapsed exchange are estimated at no less than 350 million złoty, approximately $94 million. Over 3,600 formal complaints have been filed. From BitBay to courtroom Zondacrypto started life as BitBay back in 2014, eventually rebranding in 2021. At its peak, the platform boasted more than 1.3 million registered users, making it one of Poland’s most prominent digital asset exchanges. Things unraveled in April 2026 when trading on the platform was halted entirely. Users found themselves locked out of their funds, and withdrawal complaints piled up fast. The National Prosecutor’s Office in Katowice formally opened an investigation on April 17, 2026. Roman Ż. was reportedly a former business associate of the exchange’s founder, Sylwester Susz...